Orphaned Manatee Cared for at SeaWorld Orlando

I saw a story on the news the other day about a 3½-foot, 41-pound orphaned manatee who washed up on the shores of Daytona Beach who is now being taken care of by the wonderful people at SeaWorld Orland.  I then found this adorable photograph on Cute Overload that I just had to share with you:

Until next time..... Lorie

Cowboy Lil' Man is Four Years Old

I got the latest photo from my daughter-in-law of our grandson Lil' Man taken on his 4th birthday.  Isn't he just the cutest little ham?  I think he has really taken to living in Texas quite well, wouldn't you agree?  Boy do we miss him and his parents SO much.

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - Can't Argue with Childhood Logic

Duh, ma... 'Nuff said!!

Until next time..... Lorie

I'm SO Happy - Today is National Milk Chocolate Day

I have NO idea who proclaimed July 28th as National Milk Chocolate Day, but you know what, I DON'T CARE!!  I discovered it while reading the news on the web today and saw an obscure article.  So, I just think we all need to celebrate in a HUGE way.  We can indulge because according to candyusa.com 1.4 ounces of milk chocolate has only 210 calories -- that's not much at all, hey, we can make a whole day of it:

• 
  
  Breakfast: Special-K chocolate cereal
• 
  
  Lunch: Peanut butter & Nutella sandwich
• 
  
  Dinner: Hot Fudge Sundae with Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

(Don't forget to have some M&Ms as a snack in between meals)

I'm set for the day... how about y'all???  Have a great day before we all pass out when the sugar high wears off... TeeHee

Until next time..... Lorie

{I didn't receive any compensation from any of the companies or foods mentioned in this post, they are just things that I really love, so I talked about them.}

Wordless Wednesday: Summer in Celebration, FL

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday... hope you are all having a fabulous summer.

Head on over to the Wordless Wednesday Hub to link up your post and view the other participants.  Have a terrific day.

Until next time..... Lorie

I Will Be Busy This Week

I hope you will forgive me if I don't post too often this week of fall behind on my visits to your blogs and returning emails (if you even get them at all).  You see, I will be really busy this week:

You all know the two on the left, Nano and Lady Mia, the three on the right are: Mumbo, Mai-Li, and Mila... they belong to a very good friend of mine who had a family emergency and had to go out of town, so I am dog-sitting for a week.  The are the sweetest and cutest little loves (next to my two, of course) you could ever know, but I am amazed at the extra work involved in taking care of them.  They are also not house trained, so I am trying to do that also... yeah, fun!  :-)  But look at those faces, how could I say no?

So, wish me luck and forgive me for being absent, oh, and expect LOTS of photos in the near future, I have been taking tons, they have stolen my heart!

Until next time..... Lorie

Someone Hacked my Email

Just wanted to let you guys all know that someone has hacked my AOL email address (LJS65) and has been sending out spam emails - some of them have to do with Canadian Pharmacies and other retail shops. 

I hope none of you have been getting any of these emails thinking they are from me and gotten any type of virus or spyware or other crap.  I have contacted AOL and they suggested I change my password which I did, but I am still having problems.  I really don't want to change my email address as I have had this one for at least 20 years.  I may be left with no other option.

So, if you receive an email from my AOL address (LJS65) and it appears to be some sort of sale from a retail store, I have NOT sent it to you so PLEASE do not open any links within the email.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone already and I hope to have the situation fixed soon.  Thanks for your patience.

Until next time..... Lorie

Happy Birthday Marvin the Martian

Marvin the Martian is known for his incredible tenacity and extraterrestrial intelligence. He prides himself on being superior to any earthling, even though his attitude always seems to get the better of him. His mission in life is to blow up the Earth because it blocks his view of Venus. Of course, Marvin's adorable looks also help make him the coolest Looney Tunes character in the universe.*

Oh, and by the way... Happy birthday to Amelia Earhart - born July 24, 1897 - she did some interesting stuff, too. 





Until next time..... Lorie


*nfo from: A Marvin the Martian Homepage

How To Know It's True Love

As many of you know, I truly, deeply, madly love my hubby Bill for so many reasons.  I talk about how wonderful he is to me and how much he does for me every day.  Because of my disability, he does almost all of the housework and he does a fabulous job at it... thank you darling.  He also helps me with the dogs, he makes me breakfast every morning, helps me with the grocery shopping and does all the outside yard work.  He also drives me everywhere I need to go because I find it difficult to drive now because of my spinal disease and the medications I am on.  He also does tons of things each day to make me laugh... many at his own expense.

I get asked lots of times by people HOW you know when it is truly the "real thing."  I think I figured it out on our walk the other day:

True love is when the man of your dreams is willing to pick your wedgie out of your butt when your hands are full!! 

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - Why Do They Always Wait Until the Last Minute???

As a mother, I think everyone of us has been in this situation at least once.  It drives us crazy but we would never think of buying cupcakes.... OH NO, we are perfect mothers!!!  TeeHee.

Until next time..... Lorie

41st Anniversary of the Moon Landing

On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin (Buzz) E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot.

On July 20, 1969 the lunar module, known as "The Eagle" landed on the moon and Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the surface of the moon saying these now famous words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Let us take time to remember our accomplishments in the field of space exploration and hope that we are able to continue in our endeavors to explore the universe... "the final frontier." (A little poetic license there, sorry.)

Until next time..... Lorie

Mommy and Me Monday - July 19, 2010

 

It’s time again for Mommy and Me Monday started by Krystyn over at Really, Are You Serious?  Pop out from behind that camera and capture yourself in action with your kids. Check out the inaugural Mommy and Me Monday for more information.

As most of you know, Bill and I take the doggies on a walk every morning in our little town for about a mile and a half.  Because of my spinal problems and the babies little legs, we take lots of breaks during our walk and Lady Mia loves to cuddle on my lap during our breaks.  Here is a photo of her and I during one of those rest stops.....

Want to join in with Mommy and Me Monday? Grab the button code from Krystyn's blog. Then add the link to your post in the linky (please link to the post and not your blog).   Don't forget to visit the other participants and have a great day.

Until next time..... Lorie

Help Save French Vanilla at Baskin Robbins

As I mentioned in my post yesterday about National Ice Cream Day, Baskin Robbins has decided to discontinue a treasured iconic flavor, French Vanilla... which I think is totally ridiculous.  It is one of the original flavors that was introduced by Irv Robbins and Burt Baskin in 1945.

Well, today I discovered that there is a Facebook page dedicated to saving this wonderful flavor.  Here is their mission: "To gather enough support to convince Baskin-Robbins that they must keep French Vanilla around, and save it from the dreaded Deep Freeze."

So, if you are a fan of French Vanilla, or just think it is a ridiculous idea, head on over to the Facebook page and let Baskin Robbins know that they are making a huge mistake!  Thanks for letting me kvetch!

Until next time..... Lorie

Company Motto of the Year

When we were walking around town last week, we saw this truck cleaning out a portable outhouse at a house that was having some work done.  I cracked up when I saw the company motto printed on the windshield.  Too funny!!

Just had to share.... Hope you all have a great week.

Until next time..... Lorie

Happy National Ice Cream Day

Happy National Ice Cream Day

Several years a go President Reagan declared that July 18th to be National Ice Cream Day.  Several chains (i.e Starbucks, Mayfield's) offer cents-off coupons.  Baskin-Robbins is retiring five flavors this year to make room for some new flavors.  I can't believe that one flavor they are retiring is French Vanilla!!  That is ridiculous -- it has been around since 1945 and was one of the first flavors launched by Irv Robbins and Burt Baskin.  Oh well, we'll have to wait and see what they come up with to replace it.  :-(

Hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your ice cream!!

Until next time..... Lorie

{Info from USA Today}

Caught in the Rain

One day last week on our walk, we were just on our way home (about 1/2 mile from the house) and it started to rain.  We took shelter under one of "nature's umbrellas" - because I forgot to bring one of our own - a big beautiful tree.  This seemed to keep us mostly dry for about 10 minutes until it really started coming down and we started getting soaked.  We finally gave in and started walking home, here is the result:

They don't look very happy, do they?

Of course, now I'm getting the look, "Stop with the photos, mommy, and get me a towel!"

I, of course, had to share what I looked like - my poor hair!! 

(Note where I cropped the photo: wet top + air conditioner = NO blog exposure!! TeeHee)

Here are the babies getting dried off, they really like to be cuddled in their towels.  If you'll notice, Mia has a pink towel and Nano has a blue towel... I'm nothing if not coordinated.  I love the look on Nano's face as he is looking at Bill, right after I took the photo, Nano gave Bill a big kiss.

About 10 minutes after we got home, it stopped raining... figures!

Until next time..... Lorie

Nano and Mia Make a New Friend

On our walk the other day, we ran into a little creature that the babies had never seen before... a snail.

I've actually never seen a snail this close up outside it's shell, it is kind-of cute.

Until next time..... Lorie

An Update from Afghanistan with Photos

I got a message from Nikolaus on Facebook the other day thanking me for some care packages I sent him along with some photos of him and his buddies in Afghanistan, so I wanted to share them with you all.

This first one is of him and his unit, they are doing pretty well after losing one of their guys, but all the support they receive from home - along with all of you - has kept them strong.  So from them and from me, thank you so much for all your prayers and words of encouragement.

These next two photos I am SO proud of... Nikolaus has been promoted from PFC (Private First Class) to SPC (Specialist) while he has been over there.  WooHoo!!  He is really a great soldier and Bill and I couldn't be more proud of him!  Here he is receiving his promotion from his superior officer.

These next few are of him doing what he is specializing in... mortar combat - in other words, blowing things up, yeah, that's my boy!!  Look at those muscles, when did my little baby become a man?  The first thing I asked him was why he wasn't wearing a helmet doing such a dangerous job - always a mommy, huh?

It is a really LOUD explosion...

...and, it makes a really bright flash.

Here he is on patrol in full gear - good boy, wearing his helmet.

Afghanistan looks like such a sad, dry country to me. He said the dust gets everywhere!!

Thank you again for all your support of me, him and all of the troops stationed in Afghanistan and all over the world protecting our freedoms.  God bless America.

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - I am Already SO Sick of Political Ads!!

Can you believe we have until November before the these ads will be over??  Thank goodness for my DVR!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Our Week in Random Photos

I thought I'd share with you what we've been up to lately through some random photographs that I've taken.

These are my favorite sandals that I wear every day...

Can you tell????

{Please ignore the desperately in need of a pedicure toes!}

This butterfly we ran into during one of our walks... I have never seen one like it before, nor have I seen one since. I love the green color and the fuzzy white face.

Here is another one of my grasshopper friends, he posed for me looking straight at me. I didn't use my zoom for this one, just the regular lens... I was this close to him - amazing.

My son Alexander's girlfriend Rachel and his roommate Tom came down to Florida with Rachel's best friend Devon (who works seasonally for Disney World) for a visit and Bill & I were able to have lunch with them.  It was really great to see them, I only wish Alexander were able to come down, too, but he couldn't get the time off from work.  Alex hopes to get some time off during the fall or around my birthday.  It might even be possible to have BOTH boys down here at the same time if Nikolaus gets home from Afghanistan around October like he is supposed to. Yippee!!!

Tom & Rachel

Bill, me & Rachel

We saw this man and his daughter fishing in downtown Celebration at the lake and they caught quite a few little fish with the bread they were using for bait.  She was using this adorable little pink fishing pole and got so excited every time she caught something.  We stood there and watched them for about 20 minutes.

This is the fountain we have in downtown Celebration... the children LOVE to play in it, you can always hear my favorite sound in the whole world around here: the sound of children's laughter.  Nano was exploring and got caught by one of the sprays... poor little guy.

Just another one of our critters we met on our walk.  Of course this was right before Lady Mia ran after him and he flew away.  Mia is getting a little annoyed with the birds and ducks because they can swim and fly and she can't.  :-)

Nano and Lady Mia making a new friend... they just went up to this butterfly who sat their as they sniffed him.  They were so gentle with it I was totally amazed.  Then it just flew away and they watched it go.  I am always in awe at how they react with different kinds of animals, how did they know to be so gentle with this beautiful creature?

We ran out of peanuts on this morning and this little guy was asking us for one and didn't quite understand why he couldn't have one when I was explaining to him that he had to wait until the next day.  Isn't he just the cutest little guy?  (Sorry for the fuzzy pic - he was moving towards me.)

Just wanted to include one of me and Bill during one of our walks - this is with our new iPhone4... it has the coolest feature, in that you can take self-portraits because there is a front & back camera. LOVE it!  The front and back camera is also used for "FaceTime" phone calls, which I'm sure most of you have seen a commercial for... which, BTW, always makes me cry.  It is like a Dick Trace watch phone call where you can see the person on video that you are talking to.  We had our first FaceTime call with my step-son, DIL and grandson the other day and it was FANTASTIC!!  I hadn't seen my grandson in 2 1/2 years so it was SO good to see him.  He showed me all his new toys and even sang me a song, I was such a happy grandmother!!

This last one is my favorite photo of the week... With the heat that we have been having, I have given my little babies a couple of cool baths after their walks to cool them down and they really love them.  They looked so cute when they were done, I just had to take their picture.  Here are my little drowned babies after their bath...  Aren't they so cute???? I have even made it my wallpaper on my laptop and my iPhone4.

Well, I hope you all had a fabulous week and are managing to stay cool in this heat - be careful all of you up in New England during this heat wave.  Drink plenty of water and stay cool.  HUGS!!!

Until next time..... Lorie